Sugar Dose Eases Pain

A Spoon Full of Sugar Makes Shots Go Smoother

Looks like Mary Poppins was onto something when she sang, "A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down!" It turns out that giving infants a small dose of a sugar solution just before they get injections seems to make the pain more tolerable. To see what the study said, read more.

Dr. Linda A. Hatfield and her associates at the Pennsylvania State University School of Nursing in University Park report,

Administration of 2 milliliters of a 24 percent oral sucrose solution two minutes before routine immunizations is effective in decreasing maximum immunization pain and shortens the time before returning to a near normal state in infants at two and four months of age.

The children were given the sugary liquid 45 minutes before the shots were administered. I might have to try this trick (and treat) before my daughter's next doctor's visit.